BioPAL

The BIOMASS Product Algorithm Laboratory hosts official tools for processing and analysing ESA's BIOMASS mission data.

• Website: www.biopal.org
• Documentation:
• Mailing: biopal@esa.int
• Contributing:
• Bug reports:

Objective

BIOMASS is ESA's (European Space Agency) seventh Earth Explorer mission, currently scheduled for launch in 2023. The satellite will be the first P-band SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) sensor in space and will be operated in fully polarimetric interferometric and tomographic modes. The mission main aim is to map forest properties globally, but the sensor will also allow exploring subsurface scenarios (ice, desert).

The BIOMASS Product Algorithm Laboratory (BioPAL) is an evolution of the software developed for the BIOMASS prototype processor into an open source library to be used and contributed by the scientific community.

This repository collects the software routines for processing Level 1 SAR products to generate Level 2 forest products of Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and Forest Heigth (FH). More details about these products and BIOMASS can be found here.

Structure of the Project

This repository is organized as follows:

• arepytools: Aresys I/O library for reading and managing the input dataset. Will be turned to an independent library in the future.

• biopal: contains the BioPAL source code in particular:

  • thebiopal/conf/Configuration_File.xmlcontains the configuration for the BioPAL environment and all the parameters to configure each processing chain (AGB, FH, FD, TOMO_FH);

• doc: contains the documentation.

• inputs: contains the XML Input File, to be set by the user before running an instance of the processing.

BioPAL is already used by some ESA sponsored project, however it is still an experimental code. This means that there might be still bugs. If you happen to find one, make us happy by filling an issue with all the details to reproduce it the best you can.

You can follow the developement roadmap to version 1.0.0 here.

Getting Started

Here the required environment and dependencies are listed, as well as installation options available for now.

Requirements

Python 3.7.1 is a minimum requirement. The packages required are specified in the file requirements.txt.

Installation

Installation procedure described here makes use of the open-source package management system conda. Note that the installation and processor run procedures are different in case of developers and basic users. The differences are underlined when needed.

Prerequisites

• Conda should be already installed
• In case you are a developer
  • git should be already installed
  • tortoisegit, optional, a git GUI for Windows
  • Python IDE (i.e. spyder or vs code)

BioPAL installation default option: "pip install" (users)

User default installation method. BioPAL will be automatically downoladed from pypi

In a conda command window, type the following instruction, which creates an empty biopal environment with no packages but with the correct python version installed (you can customize the environment name, modifying the "biopal" string)

    conda create --name biopal python==3.7.1

Before executing pip, install GDAL library with conda, by executing following commands in a conda command window (first activate the created environment, than install GDAL inside):

    conda activate biopal
    conda install GDAL

Now the "biopal" environment is ready for installation; install the package by executing following command:

    pip install biopal

BioPAL installation for developers only: "pip install -e"

The code is editable, thanks to the "-e" option (so for users is suggested the default installation option).

Make a local clone:

1. Fork the repository from the web interface.

2. Clone the private fork locally by executing the clone command in a conda command window (or use the tortoisegit GUI):

    git clone --branch <branchname> <remote-repo-url>
   

   where:

   • <remote-repo-url> is https://github.com/your_name_here/BioPAL.git (write your specific name)

   • <branchname> is the branch to be cloned: currently there is only a branch called main so the clone command will be (write your specific name):

     git clone --branch main https://github.com/your_name_here/BioPAL.git
     

In a conda command window, type the following instruction, which creates an empty biopal environment with no packages but with the correct python version installed (you can customize the environment name, modifying the "biopal" string)

    conda create --name biopal python==3.7.1

Before executing pip, install GDAL library with conda, by executing following commands in a conda command window (first activate the created environment, than install GDAL inside):

    conda activate biopal
    conda install GDAL

Now the "biopal" environment is ready for installation; first enter inside the /BioPAL folder, than install the package by executing following command (the "." after "-e" option means "current folder"):

pip install -e .

Setup Configuration

Open the inputs/Input_File.xml and update following sections withj absolute paths:

• dataset_query->L1C_repository: this folder contains the data stacks to be processed
• dataset_query->auxiliary_products_folder: this folder contains auxiliary parameters related to the data stacks of the L1cRepository
• output_specification->output_folder: this is the folder where the output will be saved (each run corresponds to a sub-folder formatted with the current date time)

NOTE: Sample data (L1C_repository) and auxiliaries (auxiliary_products_folder) can be obtained by writing to biopal@esa.int.

GDAL paths configuration

The BioPAL GDAL paths are automatically found by the processor after a correct installation procedure. Also note that, under Windows this only works in CMD and not in PowerShell command window. In case of problems or for particular user cases, it is possible to manually specify such paths, in this case edit biopal/conf/Configuration_File.xml, uncomment the "gdal" section and insert your absolute paths for:

• gdal_path: this is the folder containing the GDAL executables, usually in the /bin subfolder of GDAL environment (containing e.g., gdalwarp, gdal_translate,... )
• gdal_enviroment_path: this is the GDAL_DATA environment variable path

TIP: the above paths depend on your machine environment. GDAL has been automatically installed during the above procedure of conda environment creation; for a standard installation with conda, the paths should be found in paths similar to the following (where xxx is an alphanumeric string depending on the GDAL version installed)

Windows

• gdal_path (i.e.): C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\pkgs\libgdal-xxx\Library\bin
• gdal_enviroment_path (i.e.): C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\pkgs\libgdal-xxx\Library\share\gdal

Linux

• gdal_path (i.e.): /home/user/.conda/envs/biopal/bin
• gdal_enviroment_path (i.e.): /home/user/.conda/pkgs/libgdal-xxx/share/gdal

BioPAL datasets

BioPAL gives easy access to several datasets that are used for examples in the documentation and testing. These datasets are hosted on our FTP server and must be downloaded for use. Contact biopal@esa.int to receive access to the dataset and for more information.

Run the processor

1. Set the inputs/Input_File.xml as desired, the dataset_query section is already filled with default L1C_date and geographic_boundaries_polygon, to be used with the DEMO DataSet from ESA.
2. Set the AGB, FH, FD, TOMO_FH configuration sections present in biopal/conf/Configuration_File.xml as desired (default configuration parameters alreasy present)

Than the procedure is different (developer, users), depending on the installation option used.

Run the processor for users

1. In a conda command window, type the following instruction, which activates the biopal environment:

   conda activate biopal
   

2. In the same conda command window, from any folder, execute:

   biopal --conf conffolder inputfilexml
   

   where:

   • inputfilexml: path of the BioPAL xml input file (i.e. /inputs )
   • conffolder: path of the folder containing BioPAL xml configuration files (i.e. biopal/conf/)

   With following command, default configurations are used:

   biopal inputfilexml
   

   With following command, the biopal execution help will be shown:

   biopal
   

Run the processor for developers

1. In a conda command window, type the following instruction, which activates the biopal environment:

   conda activate biopal
   

   Then there are the following two choices: comand window or IDE.

To run the processor from command window (developers only):

2. On the same conda command window execute:

   biopal --conf conffolder inputfilexml (if installed with option #1 or #2; execute from any folder)
   python -m biopal --conf conffolder inputfilexml (if installed with option #3; execute from /BioPAL folder)
   

   where:

   • inputfilexml: path of the BioPAL xml input file (i.e. /inputs )
   • conffolder: path of the folder containing BioPAL xml configuration files (i.e. /biopal/conf/)

   With the following command, default configurations present in biopal/conf/ are used:

   biopal inputfilexml (if installed with option #1 or #2; execute from any folder)
   python -m biopal inputfilexml  (if installed with option #3; execute from /BioPAL folder)
   

   With the following command, the biopal execution help will be shown:

   biopal (if installed with option #1 or #2; execute from any folder)
   python -m biopal (if installed with option #3; execute from /BioPAL folder)
   

To run the processor with a script for debug (developers only):

3. Create a new .py file, with a text editor, with following content (where yourPath/BioPAL should be replaced with the folder where the BioPAL distribution has been git-cloned), and save it (i.e. run_biopal_debug.py):

    from pathlib import Path
    import sys
    import os
    biopal_path = Path( 'yourPath/BioPAL' )
    sys.path.append( str(biopal_path) )
    os.chdir(biopal_path)
    from biopal.__main__ import biomassL2_processor_run
    input_file_xml_path = biopal_path.joinpath('inputs', 'Input_File.xml')
    conf_folder = biopal_path.joinpath( 'biopal','conf')
    biomassL2_processor_run(input_file_xml_path, conf_folder )
   

4. Execute the run_biopal_debug.py script within your preferred IDE options (i.e. run, debug, breakpoints enabled....). (The biopal environment should already be enabled inside the IDE)

   or from command window, with biopal environment enabled, digit:

   python run_biopal_debug.py
   

   Read BioPAL tutorial for other examples to insert in the script

How to generate a Wheel package for pypi

1. Verify not to have a ".nox" folder in BioPAL/.nox, otherwise delete it.

2. From command window, with biopal environment enabled, digit:

   pip install nox (if not already installed in this environment) nox -s build_wheel -fb conda (generate the wheel package; -fb conda needed only if anacondaconda is used)

   nox -s build_sdist -fb conda (generate the sdist package, if needed)

   The build_wheel command will produce the wheel file "BioPAL\dist\biopal-0.1-py3-none-any.whl" The build_sdist command will produce the sdist (Software distribution) file "BioPAL\dist\biopal-0.1.tar.gz"

   For pypi packages info see also https://python-packaging-tutorial.readthedocs.io/en/latest/uploading_pypi.html

Call for Contributions

BioPAL is an open source project supported by a community who appreciates help from a wide range of different backgrounds. Large or small, any contribution makes a big difference; and if you've never contributed to an open source project before, we hope you will start with BioPAL!

If you are interested in contributing, check out our contributor's guide. Beyond enhancing the processing algorithms, there are many ways to contribute:

• Submit a bug report or feature request on GitHub Issues.
• Contribute a Jupyter notebook to our examples gallery.
• Assist us with user testing.
• Add to the documentation or help with our website.
• Write unit or integration tests for our project.
• Answer questions on our issues, slack channel, MAAP Forums, and elsewhere.
• Write a blog post, tweet, or share our project with others.
• Teach someone how to use BioPAL.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to get involved and we would be very happy for you to join us! The only thing we ask is that you abide by the principles of openness, respect, and consideration of others as described in our Code of Conduct.

Contributing Guidelines in Brief

Read carefully also contributor's guides before getting started.

1. Fork the repository.

2. Clone the private fork locally (execute the following command in your terminal):

   git clone https://github.com/your_name_here/BioPAL.git
   

3. Follow the instructions specified in the documentation, make a demo run and compare with reference output. Make sure all tests are passed.

4. Add the main repository to the list of your remotes (in order to pull the latest changes before making local changes):

   git remote add upstream https://github.com/BioPAL/BioPAL
   

5. Create a branch for local development.

6. Commit local changes and push local branch to the GitHub private fork.

7. Submit a pull request through the GitHub website to the main branch of the main repository.

Pull Request Requirements

1. Include new tests for all the new routines developed.
2. Documentation should be updated accordingly.
3. Updated code must pass all the tests.

Documentation

Documentation is work in progress and can be found here.

The user manual of the previous prototype software can be found in legacy.

History

BioPAL was originally written and is currently maintained by Aresys and the BioPAL team on behalf of ESA.

Citing

If you use BioPAL, please add these citations:

• BioPAL: BIOMASS Product Algorithm Laboratory, https://github.com/BioPAL/BioPAL

• Banda F, Giudici D, Le Toan T, Mariotti d’Alessandro M, Papathanassiou K, Quegan S, Riembauer G, Scipal K, Soja M, Tebaldini S, Ulander L, Villard L. The BIOMASS Level 2 Prototype Processor: Design and Experimental Results of Above-Ground Biomass Estimation. Remote Sensing. 2020; 12(6):985. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12060985

Affilliations

TBD